Now Manufacturers Are Really Taking The Piss With Our Food

Do we really need cosmeceuticals?

Not familiar with cosmeceuticals? These are new foods manufactured with vitamins, minerals and enzymes designed to make you look younger or at least make you think you will look younger. Although in its infancy in the UK, cosmeceuticals have taken off in Italy where yogurts, skimmed milk and pineapple desserts containing co-enzyme Q10 and Vitamin E are popular and the Spanish enjoy jams containing vitamins E and C with added anti-oxidants.

So what’s wrong with cosmeceuticals? Well firstly they are a costly way to obtain nutrients that you can get from a full range of foods at regular prices. For instance vitamin E is known as the youth vitamin, lubricates the skin and hair and is also a powerful anti-oxidant. Co-enzyme Q10 gives energy, reduces the impact of aging of our cells and improves fitness – all making us look and feel younger. And BOTH are available in a wide range of foods along with these other look younger, live longer super-nutrients:

Vitamin E	Co-enzyme Q10	Vitamin C	Anti-oxidants
Watercress	Yeast	Oranges	Tomatoes
Seeds	Meat	Strawberries	Red wine
Vegetable oil	Milk	Blackberries	Mangoes
Seed oil	Fish	Blueberries	Brazil and walnuts

It’s an old message but eating a healthy diet, taking regular exercise and dropping negative lifestyle habits all make for a youthful appearance. If this advice is too sensible for you then look out for cosmeceuticals coming to your local supermarket. And they’ll appeal to today’s have it all, have it now lifestyle.

But will a quick fix help you look younger in the long term? Probably not if you don’t change your approach to food. But they probably won’t do you any harm either (well assuming the food isn’t highly processed). But that’s the point – finding a balanced set of nutritional foods you enjoy every week will keep you looking great when the quick fixers are off for their next dose of botox.